The star has remained tight-lipped since 39-year-old acidic judge Jason lashed out at her with 'If your opinion still mattered you’d be on the panel' last weekend in a row over points given to contestant Johnson Beharry VC.

Row: Karen Barber and Jason Gardiner almost came to blows when the judge attacked her for being moved off the Dancing On Ice panel to be head coach

Tears: Karen was left furious and upset after Gardiner's cruel remark

And now apparently Dancing on Ice bosses are considering giving Karen
her old position back on the ITV show’s judging panel due to her
dignified silence.

A show source told today's Mirror: 'Many people were upset by what Jason said and Karen was devastated.

'He made her sound like she was worthless on the show and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

'The reason Karen was moved off the panel was to free her up to spend
more time with the skaters, giving them expert tips and tuition. This
week there have been talks about giving Karen back her slot on the
panel.'

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It would be a huge slap in the face for the bitchy Australian if she
were to make a return, as in the aftermath following Jason's comment on
Sunday's show, people have been quick to point out he can't actually
skate.

The source continued: 'As well as allowing her to respond to Jason
more directly, it would also mean that the judging panel had more actual
skating experts on board.

'It would be a kind of victory for Karen in her row with Jason, but
also for the majority of viewers who seem to be on her side and really
value her opinion.'

The paper insists that the move is likely to be rubber stamped in the
coming weeks and Karen would then be back on the judging panel in time
for next year's series.

Last night an ITV spokesperson said: 'We are concentrating on the
current series and have made no final decisions about Dancing on Ice in
2012.'

Precarious time: Gardiner addressed the issue in a brief message on his Twitter page on Tuesday night

Jason escaped with just a warning from producers after more than
3,000 viewers complained about his attack on head coach Karen Barber on
Sunday night’s programme.

But despite a flood of complaints to ITV
and media regulator Ofcom, the choreographer dismissed the
row earlier this week, claiming ‘the world has gone mad’.

A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Jason was furious he had been made to apologise. He
kept saying: “Everyone in Britain has gone PC mad. Everyone in the UK is
so scared of being offended, it’s going to get to the point where you
won’t be able to say anything on TV at all”.

He said: ‘The whole thing is ridiculous, the world has gone absolutely mad.’

Writing
on his Twitter page earlier this week, he said: 'Thank you to all of
you who have sent me kind support during this rather
precarious time. But there are others who are very disturbed indeed.'

The row in action: A furious Miss Barber tried to argue Johnson Beharry's case - but Gardiner shouted back his humiliating response

Gardiner initially admitted he feared ITV bosses would axe him from
the show, on which he has worked as a judge since 2006. He said:
'They're talking about it. I don't know what they will do. I can't do
anything about it. If I'm honest, I'm always surprised I get invited
back every year.'

But he was told on Tuesday that he will keep his job, though producers
warned him about his future conduct on the show and said that
his comments had been ‘unacceptable’.

The decision followed an impassioned defence from Dancing on Ice host Phillip Schofield.

At the time, the presenter admitted the controversial judge had
crossed the line. But he took to his Twitter account on Tuesday in an
attempt to calm the furore surrounding his comments.

Hero: The low score for Johnson Beharry VC kick-started the argument between Miss Barber and Gardiner, with her claiming the judge was being too harsh

He said: ‘Right, enough. Please do not expect me to condemn Jason or to expect his sacking! Firstly he is a friend.

‘Secondly, a telly spat is not a sackable offence, even if it is misplaced.

‘It’s crazy OFCOM have been swamped by complaints, why is this now
the first port of call for 'The Outraged' Why? No matter what the
misdemeanour, is the general howl 'sack 'em?'

‘Yes, a disagreement between two people spilled on to the telly, but it's not the first row to be broadcast and it won't be the last.

‘If every tiny thing that might offend someone somewhere was cut, there'd be nothing to watch! I'm a big fan of Karen & Jason, I don't think they'll be friends, but they should BOTH be on DOI.’

Gardiner has proved a controversial figure for his offensive remarks to contestants on the show and was last year forced to apologise to swimmer Sharron Davies after comparing her to ‘faecal matter’.

'A foot over the line': Host Philip Schofield admitted that Gardiner had overstepped the mark with his comments